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Monday, April 25, 2011

So the Dollar Store Craft Challenge wasn't the smashing success I was hoping for but my friends and I still had a great time creating our own! After stalking the dollar store's aisle for about a half hour I decided on my craft only to have a better idea the next day and had to drive back for the new supplies.

I decided to make garden markers to indicate where all the new plants my mom and I planted last week were located.

All you need is:

Craft sticks - $1

Wood shapes (I used two packages) - $1 each

Hot glue gun and glue - Had on-hand but normally run about $3

Sharpie pen or paint - depending on how fancy you want to get - $1

Mod podge and paint brush - Had on-hand

Optional - Paint to color your markers (If I had more time I probably would have spray painted them before writing on them)

Step 1: Crack open your wooden sticks and shapes and attach them together with the hot glue.

Step 2: Using your Sharpie write the name of your plants on the wood shapes.

That is my mom's nice handwriting, not my chicken scratches.

Step 3: Adorn with crayon or anything else you like. I had crayons handy so that is what I used.

Step 4: Coat each marker with mod podge and let dry.

Step 5: Place in dirt and take heart that you can now identify all your plants.

I don't know how well they will hold up, but for a the total purchase price of $4.00 I don't really care if they only last one year.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Going through the book this afternoon I found myself saying over and over again, "I think I will make this first." I love so many of the patterns but think I narrowed it down to:

The Hooded Capelet, Sock It To Me Sweater Vest OR Swing Set Sweater

All the patterns seem easy to read and good for beginner-intermediate crocheters. I might even try my hand at reading charts. Definitely will keep you posted on future works-in-progress. My Ravelry queue keeps getting longer and longer!

Monday, April 18, 2011

I found this cute little pattern on Ravelry for free and thought it would be a great toy for the kid's Easter baskets. Unfortunately, my little man saw me working on it and the cat was out of the bag... sorry little mouse. I don't really mind because he loves Mousey.

I changed the pattern slightly, creating i-cords for the arms and legs using 5 stitches. I wish I had made it with a couple more stitches. The bow tie was made using the following:

Cast on about 15 stitches
Knit 2 rows
Cast off

Cast on about 8 stitches
Knit 8 rows
Cast off
Wrap extra yarn around the middle to create the bow and attach to first section.

I am a slow knitter and I created this guy in about one hour start to finish. I need more practice seaming pieces together but all in all it turned out great. I think Baby Girl will be getting a white one in near future.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Today we went to a kite festival. There were so many young kids there and best of all it was free! They let the kids decorate their own kite but Grandma ended up buying a beautiful kite with a really really long tail. It was soooo windy that we had trouble getting the kites to stay up. I foresee this being an annual event at our house.

I tried a new Photoshop technique in the picture above. I adjusted to color curve using the solarizing tool. Unfortunately, I keep getting an obvious edge around G's face. If anyone has any suggestions I am ready to hear them!

We have been calling this her cupcake dress all day because it has such a full skirt. I am not sure she was a fan but it is now 4:15 pm and she is still wearing it.

Monday, April 11, 2011

When we first got chickens I wasn't well prepared for how ugly the adolescent chicken is. They are so awkward! They out grow the cute baby chick phase pretty quickly (a week or two at most) and then spend what seems like an eternity looking like this:

Some day I will grow into my comb!

Who do you think you are!

She will be a pretty chicken by the end of summer.

I sympathize with you little chickens. You just have to trust that puberty does end and by the end of summer you will be as beautiful as a chicken can be.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Have you noticed trends in the crafting world? First it was bicycles, then owls, followed up by mustaches and lately bow ties. Let's not forget over sized cowls, ruffles, flowers on everything and fingerless gloves. Everywhere I turn in the blogosphere and Etsy these motifs are unavoidable. Don't get me wrong, I love them (at least for a little while).

Sometimes they are even combined!

So then I started thinking what the next big trend will be. Here is what I have come up with:
1. Hour glasses
2. Keys
3. Skunks
4. Binoculars
5. Rabbits
6. Teapots
7. Thought bubbles
8. Chickens (fingers crossed that this one will really take off)
9. Granny Squares
10. Fringe

What do you think the next crafting trend will be? I would like to say I could offer a prize but all you get is bragging rights to saying you called if first.

Friday, April 8, 2011

When I was pregnant the first time I knew it was a boy even though we never had it confirmed. My second pregnancy I had no idea what I was having so I stayed up at night worrying about things like:
1. What do you do with a little baby girl
2. If it is a baby girl who will teach her how to wear makeup - cause I still haven't figured it out.
3. I don't know how to french braid!
4. What if she wants to take dance lessons, how will I feel about that? (I used to train professionally to be a modern dancer, but that is a story for another time.)
5. What if she likes or even loves the Disney Princesses?

Today I can happily report that I can cross number 3 off the list! It isn't pretty but I did manage to form some version of a french braid in my own hair after being inspired by a hip mom at Costco this past weekend. I loved her hair style so much I had to stop and tell her (who doesn't like a random compliment?) She told me her secret was to pull from only one side of the braid! Stroke of genius I tell you!

Thank you random hip mom from Costco. You gave me the courage to try again and with only minor whining and arm fatigue I was able to cobble this together. Sure it is a little messy but it is identifiable as a french braid. I wasn't sure what to do with the braid when I was done so into a low bun the braid and the rest of my hair went.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Are you ready for some crafty challenge awesomeness? Join me for the Dollar Store Craft Challenge and have a chance to win an adorable crochet or knitting pattern from HandMadeAwards. Look at these cute rabbit pattern they offer - perfect for Easter!

Details:Create something you love using items purchased at your local Dollar Store. Your total purchase should be under $10. You can use items you already have at your house (scrap fabric, yarn, scissors, sewing machine, drill, glue) but the main items for your project have to be purchased at the Dollar Store.

Link up your project below and a panel of guest judges will pick a winner. Be sure to mention how much you spent and tutorials are encouraged.

We will also have one winner picked at random from our followers. So if you don't feel like being crafty but want a chance to win one of the patterns, become a follower and/or join me on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you would like to participate in the drawing.

Looking for some inspiration? Check out the site Dollar Store Crafts. They have projects and tutorials that show how incredibly talented and resourceful people are.

Winners will be selected on Friday, April 22nd. Go get your Dollar Store Craft on!